Dhaka Opens Safe Cycling Routes in Parks for Families, Beginners

Dhaka Metropolitan authorities opened two dedicated cycling circuits this month inside Ramna Park and around Hatirjheel Lake, each featuring separate lanes painted in bright yellow and closed to motor vehicles on weekends.

The routes address rising demand for family-friendly outdoor exercise as Dhaka residents increase time spent in parks during the cooler morning hours of July and August.

Marked paths at Ramna and Hatirjheel

At Ramna Park the new 1.8-kilometre loop runs from the central fountain past the Shaheed Minar and back along the eastern boundary fence, with entry points at Shahbagh Gate and the old High Court side. Hatirjheel offers a flatter 2.4-kilometre circuit on the western embankment between the Baily Road bridge and the Tejgaon overpass, where families can stop at the lakeside benches near the Bir Uttam Ziaur Rahman intersection.

Both sites fall under the Dhaka South City Corporation’s weekend traffic-calming programme that began in March 2025 and now restricts private cars inside the parks between 6 am and 10 am on Saturdays and Sundays.

Costs and participation numbers

A 2026 city survey recorded 3,800 family cycling trips across these two parks in the first half of the year, up from 2,900 during the same period in 2025. Basic mountain bikes rent for 150 taka an hour from stalls operated by the Bangladesh Cycling Federation near the Ramna south gate and the Hatirjheel amphitheatre.

Parents new to the activity can join the free Saturday orientation sessions run by the federation at 7 am, which cover helmet fitting and basic signalling before riders set off on the marked lanes.

Anyone starting a regular routine should speak with a local physician at the nearest government health centre to confirm the activity suits their current fitness level before increasing distance or speed.